Looking after your wellbeing

Looking after your mental wellbeing

Evidence points to five steps that we can take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from your life.

If you approach them with an open mind and try them, you can judge the results yourself.

Connect - connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships. See our Social relationships page for more information or visit the NHS Choices website.

Be active - you don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find the activity that you enjoy, and make it a part of your life. See our Being active pages or visit the NHS Choices website for more information about the mental benefits of exercise.

Keep learning - learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike? See our Learning and volunteering page or visit the NHS Choices website.

Give to others - even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. See our Learning and volunteering page or visit the NHS Choices website.

Take notice - be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”, and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. Learn more about mindfulness on the NHS Choices website.